Lubricating apparatus



Sept. 5, 1933. A, p FOX 1,925,832

LUBRI CA'IING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 5,1933. A. P. FOX

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5,19330 A. P. FOX

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 g w? E Sept.5, 1933a A. FQX

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I fill. III/Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,925,832 LUBRICATINGAPPARATUS Alexander P. Fox,

St. Louis,

Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 28, 1933. Serial No.653,982 '7 Claims. (C1. 22147.1)

This invention relates to lubricating apparatus, and with regard tocertain more specific features, to high-pressure lubricating pumps.

This invention is an improvement upon the invention set forth anddescribed in my United States patent application, Serial Number 611,122,filed May 13, 1932, for Lubricating apparatus.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa lubricating pump adapted to pump directly from a commercial containeror the like, said pump and container being organized as an improved formof portable unit; the provision of apparatus of the class describedwhich may be properly heated for use with heavy and/or cold lubricants,without scorching the lubricants and with minimum waste of heat; theprovision of apparatus of the class described which may have the saidcommercial container quickly dismounted and remounted thereon for thepurpose of changing containers; and the provision of apparatus of theclass described which may be made simple and rugged in design and whichmay be easily repaired. Other objects will be in part obvious and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and-arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal section taken through a boosterpumping unit;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of a primary pumpingunit;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the bottommost portion of astationary form of apparatus, the same including a thermostatic heatercut-out.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now ,more particularly to Fig. 1,.

there is shown in general at numeral 1 a port- 'able carriage adapted tosupport a commercial container 3, the latter containing lubricant.

Mounted on and extending into the container 3 is a rimary, air-drivenpump 5 adapted to withdraw lubricant from the bottom of said container 3and deliver the same to a high-pressure, air-driven, booster pump '7,the latter taking the lubricant from the primary pump 5 and. boostingthe pressure thereof and delivering said lubricant under high pressureto a normally closed valve 9. When the valve 9 is opened, lubricant isejected from a nozzle 11. Fastened beneath the carriage 1 and below thecontainer 3 is a heating element 13.

More specifically, the carriage 1 comprises a bed plate 15 supported oncasters 1'7. The bed plate 15 carries four corner posts 19 the upperends of which support a platform 21, the latter being fastened to theposts 19. The platform 21 carries said high-pressure booster pump '7.

The bed plate 15 carries a heater plate 165 adapted to support a loaded,commercial grease container 3, and for holding said container 3 inposition there are provided tension rods 23 attached to the bed plate 15and having slidable finger catches 25 thereon adapted to be drivendownwardly by hand wheels 2'7 threaded on said tension rods 23. Beforethe container 3 is placed on the bed plate 15 it has its commercialcover removed therefrom and a special, temporary cover 29 placedthereon. This temporary cover 29 is engageable by the fingers 25 so thatsaid fingers may hold down the cover when the hand wheels 27 arethreaded downwardly. The cover 8 29 and the parts directly associatedtherewith correspond essentially to similar parts shown in said patentapplication, Serial Number 611,122.

As stated in said application, I have found it desirable to pumplubricants under pressure by attaching to their original containers apump such as 3, which shall withdraw the lubricant and directly deliverit to a line under pressure.

I have also found that where a lighter lubricant is used, such as lightgrease and the like, a rela- 9 tively high speed, small borereciprocating unit may be used to provide high pressure in suitablequantity, the. liquid friction being low.

, However, in the case of the modern, heavy and viscous lubricants,especially when they are cold, the small bore, high speed equipment isnot suitable. This is because the high speed causes the pump to lose itsprime under the conditions of sluggish flow of the lubricant. The highspeed is necessary with small-bore, high-pressure pumps in 01 der thatample quantities may be obtained.

An alternative to the high speed operation, in obtaining amplequantities is to provide a larger bore of pump. This, however,introduces the difficulty that high outlet pressures are not obtainablewith economically sized apparatus. To overcome these difliculties, Iprovide a relatively. large-bore, slow-acting, primary pump forwithdrawing lubricant from the original container, and also a boosterpump of smaller bore and operating at higher speeds in series therewithfor maintaining a high outlet pressure. These units are all organizedadvantageously as will be hereinafter described.

The original closing cover having been removed from the container 3, anopening is left which is subsequently covered by the temporary cover 29.It will be understood that the cover 29 is of such a lit on thecontainer 3 that it does not seal against entry of air. The temporarycover 29 has attached thereto a bushing 4 which has extending downwardlytherethrough a pump cylinder 6 which is slidable in the bush- The lowerend of the cylinder 6 is castellated as shown at 8 to provide entry wayfor fluid irom the container 3, even though the cylinder assembly isbottomed on the bottom of the container 3. A foot valve 10 is providedat the bottom of the cylinder 3 to permit ingress of fluid from thecontainer into the cylinder 6 but to prevent reverse action.

Within the cylinder 6 is a reciprocating piston rod 12 which carries ahollow and slidable piston l4 hereon. By a spring 16, the piston 14 isnormally caused to seat on a flange 18 carried at the lower end of therod 12. The piston reacts in any downward movement against the spring16. The spring 16 reacts against a pin 20 carried on the rod 12. It willbe seen that any reciprocation of the rod 12 will result in drawingfluid through the castellated portion 8 and through the valve 10 intothe cylinder 6, the piston 14 at this time seating on the flange or cap18.

Upon downward movement the indrawn fluid is trapped in the cylinder 6below the piston 14 and is placed under pressure. The pressurelifts thepiston 14 from its seat 18, thereby causing fluid to change positionfrom beneath the piston to the space above the piston. The change ofposition is efiected through the piston itself which, as shown, ishollow.

Upon the next subsequent stroke, the, fluid which is trapped above thepiston is pushed out from the upper end of the cylinder 6 and out of aport 30 which is formed by a body casting 31 supported in said bushing4.

There is advantage in having the plunger 14 reciprocate at or near thebottom of the container because this insur the tube functioning againstthe applied air pressure of atmospheric degree. Also material iswithdrawn from the lower heated region of the container.

At its upper end, the piston rod passes through a packing gland 33carried in the body 31. A by-pass 35 from the gland 33, through the body31 back to the container 3 serves to re-deliver any grease which mayleak through the packing of the gland 33. This re-delivery is to thegrease container; and diverts'air leakage from the cylinder. toatmosphere in the container and thereby prevents grease working up intothe air cylinder, or vice versa, preventsair from working down into thegrease chamber.

In order to reciprocate the piston rod 12, its upper end is providedwith a piston 37 reciproton 37.

eating in a cylinder 39, the latter being held to the casting 31 bymeans of studs 41. These studs 41 also hold down on the end of thecylinder 39 a cap 43 which encloses a valve.

The cap-and-valve casting 43 is in communication with the upper end ofthe cylinder 39 by way of a port 45 and in communication with the lowerend of said cylinder by way of a pipe 47 and ports 49 and 51 at oppositeends of said pipe 47. The details of the valve carried in the casting 43and the actuating mechanism therefor are as follows (Fig. 4)

The upper end of the piston rod 12 is made hollow as sho wn at numeral53. Threaded into the hollow portion is socket for a spring 57.

A reciprocating valve stem 59 passes through the guide in cap 55 and isprovided in the hollow portion 53 with a head 61. The hollow portion orsocket 53 is of such length that a predetermined amount of lost motionis provided between the stem 59 and the piston rod 12.

Leading from an air inlet manifold 63 (Fig. 2) is'a flexible inlet airpipe 65 which may be manually attached and detached from the valve body43. The inlet air manifold 63 carries a lubricator 22. The inletmanifold 63 receives air from an air hose (see dotted lines 67, Fig. 1)attached by means of a detachable coupling 69 to an inlet air fitting71. The air pipe 65 leads to an inlet port 73 in the casting 43.

The interior of the body 43 is provided with a valve 77. The valve fitsslidably on the valve stem 59 and is endwise engaged by springs 79 and81, said springs reacting against collars 83 and 65 respectively held tosaid stem 59.

The valve 77 is provided with a peripheral recess 91 for providingcommunication between the passage 51 and an exhaust passage 93 when thevalve is in its upper position. When the valve is in its lower positionthis groove 91 cuts oil the said communication and causes acommunication between said port 51 and the air inlet 73 thus to deliverair beneath the piston 37.

The valve 77 is also provided with a second peripheral groove 95 w ch,when the valve is in its uppermost position, connects the inlet port 73with the port 45 to lead air above the piston 37; and when the valve isin its lowermost position cuts off this connection and causes acommunication between said port '45 and a second exhaust port 97. M Thevalve 77 is also provided with a pair of spaced grooves 103 in one orthe other of which rests a pair of detent balls (indicated at numeral102) normally spring-pressed inwardly. These have been particularized atgreater length in said application, and in view of saidparticularization, and in view of the fact that they comprise knowndevices for effecting a detent action, they will not be furtherdescribed. For an analogous detent construction shown herein, see thedevice of, Fig. 5, used in connection with the engine 7.

In View of the above, the operation of the primary engine 5 is asfollows:

Air enters the pipe 65 and the port 73, from whence itpasses through thegroove 95 to the port 45 and thence into the upper end of the cylinder39, thus pressing downwardly the pis the lower a cap 55 which alsoholds, in place the piston 37. It also functions as a the stem 59.continues beyond groove in its end of its stroke,

' The downward stroke continues until the cap 55 strikes the collar 61to cause movement of The movement of, the stem 59 the time that theupper collar 33 strikes the spring '79. After the collar 83 strikes thespring '79, the spring 7915 compressed but does not move the valve '77,because of the detent action. The collar 83 continues its downwardmovement until it contacts the valve '7'? thus moving it. Thus, thevalve '77 is given a full-stroke action by the energy released from theupper spring '79. This results in the grooved ports 91 and 95 beingreset, so that the port 91, which previously permitted exhaust frombelow the piston now cuts off the exhaust. Instead, the port 91 permitsair under pressure to flow from the inlet '73 to the port 51, down thepipe 4'7 and to the port 49, thus pushing upwardly the piston 37 afterthe same has reached the lower end of its stroke. The full-stroke actionof the valve '77 does not take place until the piston 3'7 has almostreached the end of its stroke.

The resetting of the valve also results in the inlet port '73 beingcutoff from the port 45, the

lower position causing communication between the port 45 and the lowerexhaust port 9'7.

The upward stroke continues as long as air flowsin under the piston 37.The lower end of the socket strikes said collar 61 to move the sameuntil the lower collar 85 strikes the spring 81. The spring 81 isstressed but does not overcome the detent reaction until the pistonnears the at which time the collar 85 contacts the valve '77 moving itslightly to permit spring 81 to throw the valve '77 to its originalposition, thus again starting the cycle of action.

The above action forces material under pressure into the outlet line 106and, if it were desired, the grease could be used at this pressure.However, it is my desire to increase the pressure of the grease beyondthat provided for by the above described priming engine 5 and to do thisI provide a booster pump 7 which, instead of being integrally organizedwith the primer pump 5 is separate therefrom and stands upon the upperplate 21 from which it is readily removable. The line 106 is readilydetachable, as is the air line 65 so that the drum 3 and the engine 5thereon may be removed from the platform 15 when'the container 3 isempty. Thus removed, the container 3 may have the pump 5 removedtherefrom with being applied to another filled container which, with thepump 5 may be replaced on the platform 15 and the lines 65 and. 106again connected. I

Referring to the booster pump '7, it will be seen to comprise a base 111carrying a cylinder 113 having a reciprocating, double-acting piston 115therein, with a piston rod 117 reaching therefrom. The piston rod 117drives a plunger 119. An arm 121 which rides upon a guide 123 operates afull-stroke valve gear 125.'

, The'valve gear 125 comprises a manifold 12'7 associated with a portedchest 129 on a cylinder 113. A valve stem 131 is operated by said arm121 which is forked thereover and, with lost motion, engages springs 133which springs absorb energy until the spring-pressed ,detent balls 135(Fig. 5) are pushed from one or the other of the grooves 137 in thevalve stem 131 to spring into the adjacent groove to effect a full valvestroke the lid 29, these parts 5 and 29 at or near the end of the fullstroke of the piston 115, thus to reset the valve only aftersubstantially full stroke of the piston 115. In the position shown, arecess 139 is carrying air from an inlet port 141 in communication withsaid manifold 63 into the left end of the cylinder 113 by way of ports143 and 145. At this time air, is exhausting from the other end of thecylinder 113 by way of ports 147 and 149.

When the valve becomes reset, the left end of the cylinder 113 mayexhaust through ports and 151, the reduced end portion153 of the valvestem 131 permitting this. At the same time the recess 139 connects aninlet port 143 with an inlet port 155 which carries air to the oppositeend of the cylinder 113 by way of port 147. By this means the same airpressure which operates the engine 5 is caused to operate the. engine'7.

The reason for the pressure at the outlet of engine '7 being higher thanat the outlet of engine 5 is that the area ratio of the piston diameterof engine '7 to the plunger diameter is greater than the ratio of areasof the corresponding parts in engine 5. Thus the engine '7 receiveslubricant under pressure from line 106, said line 106 being attached toa manifold 157 from which the plunger 119 takes its charge and ejectsthe same through a check valve 159 to an outlet 161, the latter beingconnected to a flexible line 163 which passes to said gun or valve 9.

From the above it will be seen that whenever the valve 9 is closed, theair pressure in manifold 63 causes both the low and high pressure pumps5 and '7 to operate. The pump '7 will operate until the pressure in theline 163 is built up so that the total load impressed upon the end areaof the plunger 119 equalizes the total air load on the piston 115 (Fig.3). Said pressure in the manifold 15'7 depends upon the pump 5 whichwill start to operate whenever the pump 7 has decreased the pressure inthe manifold 157 to a point where it no longer, when impressed on piston14, balances the air grease in the manifold 15'? multiplied by theprojected area of the piston 14 is equal to the unit pressure of the airmultiplied by the pro- J'ected area of piston 3'7, then the pump 5 willcease operation; otherwise it will be operated until this balance isestablished. The volume displaced per stroke by plunger 119 isconsiderably less than that displaced by piston 14 per pressure onpiston 37. That is to say, when the unit pressure of stroke;consequently the speed at which piston 14 travels is governed by thevolume displaced by plunger 119 per stroke. The displacement values canbe varied to insure a movement of the primer pump 5 at a rate bestsuited to effectively prime, depending upon the consistency or viscosityof the fluid being pumped. Thus the advantages of a slow-operating,low-pressure pump handling large volumes are obtained for boostingpressure from atmospheric to the intermediate value. Thereafter the highpressure booster '7 is used which, although it must operate at higherspeeds for a given volume, is nevertheless capable of doing somaintaining a full prime because of the superatmospheric pressure in itsintake manifold 15'7 caused by pump 5.

that should either I these lines are flexible and require no expertmechanics to make the changes. They are all provided withquick-detachable couplings.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of improved means forheating the fluid in the container 3. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, oneform of heater is shown to comprise the plate 165 resting on the lowersupport 15 and adapted to engage the bottom 1670f the'drum 3 within aflange 169 thereof. An electrical heating element 171 is mounted withinthe plate 165 and provided with a cover 173 and an energizing line andplug 1'75 adapted to be connected with a suitable outside electricalcircuit.

The heating value of the electrical resistance 171 is made such that inview of the size of the drum 3 carried on the plate 165, the heat inputwill be balanced by the radiation from the drum, at a temperature whichis less than the point at which the lubricant is scorched. Referencehere is made to cold weather conditions. Variations in cold weathertemperature have the effect of causing a greater or less depth oflubricant in the bottom of the container 3 to be heated.

It will be seen that by arranging a hot plate upon which the commercialdrum stands and applying a pump which draws in lubricant from the bottomof the container, the pump draws lubricant from the region at which itis heated. As lubricant is pumped, the cold lubricant is drawn downagainst the hot plate prior to being pumped. The position of the mass oflubricant above the heater is conducive to economy, because the heat hasa tendency to rise. Furthermore, it is the commercial container for thelubricant which is heated and thus the lubricant needs at no time bepumped or transferred from container to container while cold.

In Fig. 6 is shown another form of heater app ed to a stationary form ofthe apparatus wherein the fixed supports 177 are substituted thereforfor casters. This heater has an electrical heating element 179 fastenedto the plate 181, covered as at 183. The electrical leads 182 passthrough a thermostatic switch 184 before passing to the heating element179, the switch 184 being adapted to open and close the circuit inresponse to low and high temperatures applied to a sensitive,thermostatic element 185 which is in heat-conducting relationship withand above the heating element 179. The switch 184 has the knownadjusting means whereby a predetermined temperature may be carried inthat which is heated by the electrical heating element 179 (here thelubricant). The advantages above set forth in connection with thenon-thermostatic'form of the heater apply to the thermostatic form.Furthermore, with the thermostatic form it is possible to maintain agiven temperature of lubricant under more widely varying exteriorconditions.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In lubricating apparatus, a portable carriage adapted to removablysupport a lubricant container having an opening, a relatively low-'pressure pump adapted to be inserted into and removed from saidcontainer independently of the carriage, a relatively high-pressureboosting pump supported by the carriage, and lubricant and energizinglines connecting said pumps, said low-pressure pump being adapted to bepassed through the upper opening of said container and to withdrawlubricant from the lower end thereof, and a heater associated with saidcarriage located beneath the container adjacent to said point ofwithdrawal.

2. In lubricating apparatus, a portable carriage adapted to removablysupport a lubricant container having an opening, a relativelylowpressure pump adapted to be inserted into and removed from saidcontainer independently of the carriage but having exterior parts, arelative 1y high-pressure boosting pump supported by the carriage, andlubricant and energizing lines connecting said pumps when on thecarriage, said low-pressure pump being adapted to be passed through theupper opening of said container and booster pump.

3. In lubricating apparatus, a portable carriage comprising a lowerplatform, a plurality of posts thereon, an upper platform supported bythe posts, said lower platform being adapted to support a lubricantcontainer, a booster pump on said upper platform, and a relativelylowpressure pump attached to the container and rewith said container,the outlet of said low-pressure pump feeding the inlet of saidhigh-pressure pump.

let of said low-pressure pump feeding the inlet of said high-pressurepump, and heating means located on said lower platform beneath thecontainer.

6. In lubricating apparatus, a portable carriage adapted to support alubricant container having a mouth, a low-pressure pump applicable intothe interior of said container through the upper mouth thereof, saidpump reaching to and withdrawing material from the bottom of thecontainer, a heating element on the carriage beneath the container andadjacent to said point of withdrawal, a booster pump mounted on saidcarriage, air-operated means for operating both pumps, and flexiblematerial and air lines connecting said pumps, including quick-detachableadapted to support a lubricant container, a booster pump on said upperplatform, and a relatively low-pressure pu mp attached to the containerand removable from the container, the outlet of said low-pressure pumpfeeding the inlet of said high-pressure pump.

ALEXANDER P. FOX.

